Results 5,341-5,360 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Referendum Unit within my Department engaged MKC Communications, the Archway, 4a Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, to provide communication support services to my Department. In 2012 they were paid €32,350 and have been paid €7,245 to date this year.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Departmental Staff Data (26 Sep 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department was established on the 2nd June 2011 and my personal appointees were made in accordance with the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices as issued by the Department of Finance in April 2011 and the information is set out hereunder. Ministerial Appointees 2011 2013 (to date) Special Advisors 2* 1.5 Programme Managers 0 0 Personal Assistant 1 0 Personal Secretary 1 1...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Children's Beauty Pageants (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550, 552 and 557 together. I have previously stated I have serious concerns about these pageants because I see it as the inappropriate early sexualisation of very young children. We must defend the rights of our children to be three, four and five years of age and we need to address issues in relation to the sexualisation of children. In this regard I have...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: As part of Budget 2013 I, together with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, announced a new After-school Childcare initiative targeted at low-income parents when presented with employment opportunities. The aim of this initiative is to ensure that affordable and quality childcare is available to disadvantaged families when work opportunities are offered. Eligibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Irish Language Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: My Department has prepared a draft scheme under the Official Language Act which is currently awaiting approval by my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. In addition to this my Department was audited by Coimisinéirí Teanga for compliance with the provisions of the Official Languages Act (specifically requirements for signage) on Thursday 26 September....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Legislative Process (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Child Care (Amendment) Act, 2007 - Sections 5 - 13 have not been commenced. These sections are being repealed by the Child and Family Agency Bill. The intent of these provisions will be incorporated by way of Ministerial Order into the new Child and Family Agency Bill. The following Parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 have not been commenced: Part 2 (excepting sections 4, 7 and...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Directives (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: There are currently no fines or potential fines resulting from non-compliance with European Union directives within my area of responsibility.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Foreign Adoptions (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Ethiopia is not a signatory of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. In these circumstances, future adoptions from Ethiopia would require a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Ethiopia. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Family Support Services (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Family Support Agency is responsible for the support, promotion and development of the Family and Community Services Resource Centre Programme. The Programme provides funding and support to 106 Family Resource Centres (FRCs) around the country. The aim of the programme is to combat disadvantage and improve the functioning of the family unit. Family Resource Centres are governed by...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Ministerial Appointments (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 38916/13 of 19 September 2013 on this matter. The position is unchanged. The principal duties and responsibilities envisaged for the Campus Manager of the children detention schools in Oberstown are listed below, and were included in the information booklet published recently by the Public Appointments Service for this position:...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Detention Centres (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised that the Oberstown Board of Management is currently considering the findings of the report referred to by the Deputy. This process is ongoing and it is important to ensure that this is done in a fair and impartial manner. This process has taken some time due to the need to develop a comprehensive response to the issues raised in the report and in order to allow persons...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Regulatory Impact Assessment Numbers (1 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Regulatory Impact Analyses have been carried out on the following Bills: Children Amendment Bill 2013 Child and Family Agency Bill 2013 A Regulatory Impact Analysis was also carried out on the proposed amendment of the Child Care Act 1991 which is being included in the Child and Family Agency Bill.

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: He does not take any responsibility for this.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Support Agency Expenditure (2 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Significant preparations are underway to develop the financial procedures and accounting arrangements that are required of a major public body such as the Child and Family Agency in discharging its financial accountability. In line with public service modernization it has been decided that shared services will be exploited to the fullest extent to promote operational efficiency. It has...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Qualifications (2 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 to 235, inclusive, together. I am committed, in conjunction with the HSE and other stakeholders, to progressing a Pre-School Quality Agenda involving a range of actions aimed at improving the quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime. I have outlined to the Dáil on a number of occasions the areas which I believe need to...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Provision (2 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together. I am committed, in conjunction with the HSE and other stakeholders, to progressing a Pre-School Quality Agenda involving a range of actions aimed at improving the quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime. I have outlined to the Dáil on a number of occasions the areas which I believe need to be...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Services Inspections (2 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: Under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 as provided in the Child Care Act 1991, the Health Service Executive has responsibility for the inspection of services and the enforcement of the regulations. Inspection is carried out to monitor compliance with the Regulations thereby ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children and the promotion of their development....

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (2 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not contracted consultants, since 1 January 2013, to advise on the possible sale of any assets.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Telecommunications Services Provision (3 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have no plans to introduce such a service at this time. However, my Department would cooperate fully with any future proposal to introduce such a service on an inter-departmental basis.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education Issues (3 Oct 2013)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. Approximately 68,000 children availed of the provision in 2012. In line with the Programme for Government, I succeeded in maintaining the universality of the free pre-school year, including securing an...